Spark gap apparatus and method for electrostatic discharge protection

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for providing electrostatic discharge protection includes a plurality of conductive circumferential extensions defined by overlapping circular voids between a first conductor surface and a second conductor surface.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/881,259, filed on Jun. 30, 2004. The entire disclosure of this prior application is hereby incorporated into this application by reference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

This disclosure generally relates to electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices, methods of manufacturing ESD protection devices, and electronic devices incorporating spark gap ESD protection devices.

Spark gaps are ESD protection devices that comprise two or more spaced apart electrodes having a breakdown voltage dependent on the electrode spacing and geometry. When a voltage across the gap spacing exceeds the breakdown voltage, an arc is created across the spark gap that causes the voltage across the spark gap to clamp to a clamp level.

This disclosure describes novel spark gap fabrication methods and novel spark gap devices. This disclosure also describes novel applications of conventional spark gap devices and novel applications of the novel spark gap devices described herein.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a plurality of laser footprints in overlapping disposition on a conductor surface;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for a method of fabricating a circumferential extension spark gap device;

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict example embodiments of a circumferential extension spark gap device;

FIG. 5 depicts a plurality of laser footprints in both vertical and horizontal overlapping disposition on a conductor surface;

FIG. 6 is an example embodiment of a circumferential extension spark gap device formed by the laser footprint pattern of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 depicts another embodiment of a circumferential extension spark gap device;

FIG. 8 depicts another embodiment of a spark gap device including a shunt capacitor;

FIG. 9 depicts a side view of a first printed circuit board embodiment of the spark gap device of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 depicts a side view of a second printed circuit board embodiment of the spark gap device of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 depicts a side view of a third printed circuit board embodiment of the spark gap device of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 depicts another embodiment of a circumferential extension spark gap device;

FIGS. 13 and 14 depict side and top views of a spark gap device in a flex circuit;

FIG. 15 depicts example embodiments of spark gap devices integrated into surface mount components;

FIG. 16 depicts an example embodiment of a spark gap device in a surface mount capacitor;

FIG. 17 provides a plurality of circuit representations for various surface mount components having integrated spark gap devices;

FIG. 18 depicts a top view of a mobile communication device;

FIG. 19 depicts a spark gap device for providing ESD protection from a metal surface case component of the mobile communication device;

FIGS. 20 and 21 depict side and bottom views of one embodiment of a spark gap device for providing ESD protection from a metal surface case component of the mobile communication device;

FIGS. 22 and 23 depict side and bottom views of another embodiment of a spark gap device for providing ESD protection from a metal surface case component of the mobile communication device;

FIG. 24 is an example printed circuit board (PCB) having integrated circumferential extension spark gap devices for providing ESD protection; and

FIG. 25 is an example subscriber identity module (SIM) card having integrated circumferential extension spark gap devices for providing ESD protection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a plurality of laser footprints 10 in overlapping disposition on a conductor surface 12. The conductor surface 12 is typically a conductive trace material, such as copper, gold, or the like, that is deposited on a substrate material or integrated into a thin film interconnect layer. Conductive traces 13, 14, 15 and 16 are used to electrically connect electronic circuit elements or to define conductive electrical paths. For example, conductive trace 13 may be connected to signal processing circuitry and conductive trace 14 may be connected to an input pin on a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, while conductive traces 15 and 16 may be connected to a reference ground.

The laser footprints 10 each have a diameter D within which the conductor surface 12 is etched away when a laser is activated. As the conductor surface 12 is ablated away in each footprint 10, a spark gap 20 is formed. The conductor surface 12 is removed by laser ablation, which results in overlapping arcuate voids 22 in the conductor surface 12 that coincide with the laser footprints 10. A plurality of remaining conductive circumferential extensions 24 define the overlapping arcuate voids 24. The distance G between the tips of the circumferential extensions 24 is the spark gap distance. Typically, the laser ablation will remove to a particular depth the substrate material on which conductive surface is deposited.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart 30 for a method of fabricating a circumferential extension spark gap device 20. In step 31, design data is input into a laser ablation device for conductor removal. The design data may comprise data used by a laser ablation device to selectively position and activate a laser used in steps 32 and 33. In step 32, laser footprints are overlapped on a conductor surface. The laser footprints may be overlapped simultaneously, such as when utilizing multiple lasers, or may be overlapped sequentially, such as when using a single laser and redirecting the laser beam relative to the conductor surface. The laser footprints may also be overlapped only in a horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 1, or may be overlapped in both a vertical and horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. 5.

In step 33, a void is laser ablated at each laser footprint. Laser ablation will remove the conductor surface within the laser footprint. After all of the voids in the conductor surface have been created, the resulting conductor surface is separated into two conductive regions separated by a circumferential extension spark gap 20.

In step 34, the laser-ablated spark gap is evaluated. The evaluation may comprise electrical testing, visual inspection, of a combination of both electrical testing and visual inspection.

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict example embodiments of a circumferential extension spark gap device 20. Each spark gap 20 comprises a plurality of circumferential extensions 24 that define arcuate voids 22. The arcuate voids 22 in the conductive material separate a first conductor 36 and a second conductor 38. The circumferential extensions 24 on the first conductor 36 are in opposing disposition to the circumferential extensions 24 on the second conductor 38. Conductive traces 13 and 14 of the first conductor 36 are used to electrically connect electronic circuit elements or to define conductive electrical paths. Conductive traces 15 and 16 of the second conductor 38 are used to connect the second conductor to a reference potential, such as a ground.

The spark gap distance may be adjusted by adjusting the amount of overlap in the laser footprints. For example, the overlap amount of the laser footprints in FIG. 3 is less than the overlap amount of the laser footprints in FIG. 4. Accordingly, the spark gap distance G of FIG. 3 is less than the spark gap distance G′ of FIG. 4. In one embodiment, the overlap amount of the laser footprints is adjusted to obtain a spark gap distance G of approximately 12 μm. In this embodiment, the laser footprints are horizontally overlapped as in FIG. 4, and thus the spark gap distance G is less than the diameter of the laser footprint.

In another embodiment, the laser footprints may be both vertically and horizontally overlapped to adjust the spark gap distance G. FIG. 5 depicts a plurality of laser footprints 22 in both vertical and horizontal overlapping disposition on a conductor surface. FIG. 6 is an example embodiment of a circumferential extension spark gap device 20 formed by the laser footprint pattern of FIG. 5. The circumferential extensions 24 define the arcuate voids 22 for each overlapping laser footprint. Thus, by vertically and horizontally overlapping the laser footprints, the spark gap distance G may be adjusted to a distance greater than the diameter of the laser beam footprint.

While only three void regions 22 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the spark gap 20 may comprise circumferential extensions defining tens, hundreds or even thousands of voids 22. Increasing the number of circumferential extensions tends to increase the durability of the spark gap to repeated use. Additionally, while the laser footprints 10 and/or resultant arcuate voids 22 are depicted as circular, the laser footprints 10 and/or resultant arcuate voids 22 may also comprise other arcuate shapes, depending on the particular laser device implemented.

FIG. 7 depicts another embodiment of a circumferential extension spark gap device 20. The spark gap device 20 of FIG. 7 is an embodiment that may be used in a printed circuit board (PCB) or a flex circuit. Conductive surfaces 46 and 48 are covered by solder masks 40 and 42, respectively. A spark gap 20 comprising a plurality of circumferential extensions 24 that define arcuate voids 22 separates the conductive surfaces 46 and 48. A keep-out zone 44 separates the spark gap 20 from adjacent pads. In one embodiment, the solder masks 40 and 42 lengths 1_(m), and the keep out zone 44 length 1_(k) are 0.1 mm, and the surface area of the spark gap device A is 0.5 mm².

FIG. 8 depicts another embodiment 50 of a spark gap device 20 including a shunt capacitor 54 that is connected in parallel with the spark gap device 20. An ESD sensitive device, such as digital processing circuitry, may be connected to a connection point 56. The connection point 58 defines and ESD entry points, such as a signal line in a USB port. The connection point 62 defines and ESD source, such as a person or an electrical device that may have a different potential than the potential of connection point 58. The ESD energy may be modeled as an energy discharge from a RLC circuit comprising a series connected resistor 64, capacitor 66, and inductor 68.

The shunt capacitor 54 provides additional shunt protection and voltage limiting. The voltage across the spark gap is approximated by the equation:

V _(SG) =V _(ESD)(C _(ESD)/(C _(SG) +C _(ESD)))

where

V_(ESD) is the voltage across the capacitor 66;

C_(ESD) is the capacitance of capacitor 66; and

C_(SG) is the capacitance of the capacitor 54.

In one embodiment, an optional resistor 60 may be connected in series with the parallel connected spark gap 20 and capacitor 54 to further limit the injection of ESD energy into the ESD sensitive device. Additionally, the resulting reactive network acts as a single-pole filter. In another embodiment, an optional inductor 61 may be connected in series with the parallel connected spark gap 20 and capacitor 54 to further limit the injection of ESD energy into the ESD sensitive device.

FIG. 9 depicts a side view of a first printed circuit board 70 embodiment of the spark gap device 50 of FIG. 8. The printed circuit board 70 comprises a plurality of levels 71 a-h. In particular, levels 71 a, 71 b, 71 c, 71 f, 71 g and 71 h comprises signal levels upon which conductive signal traces are deposited. Level 71 d comprises a ground level upon which a conductive ground trace is deposited. Level 71 e comprises a power level upon which a conductive power trace is deposited. The conductive signal traces of levels 71 a, 71 b, 71 c, 71 f, 71 g and 71 h are used to conduct electrical data signals. The ground trace of level 71 d may be connected to a ground reference potential, such as a V_(ss) potential, and the conductive power trace of level 71 e may connected to a power potential, such as a V_(cc) potential.

Conductive traces on each level 71 a-h are depicted by their thickened side profiles 73 relative to surfaces 75 that represent the demarcation between printed circuit board levels. For example, the conductive trace 73 a that is deposited on ground level 71 d may comprises a ground trace or a ground plane. The conductive trace 73 a is also connected to ground vias 74 a and 74 b to provide access to the ground potential in other layers of the printed circuit board. Each ground via 74 a and 74 b comprises a conductive trace deposited on the interior surface of the via, or may comprise a conductive core filling the interior region of the via. The conductive trace 73 b on power level 71 f is not connected to the ground vias 74 a and 74 b, as represented by the surface area 75 interposed between the conductive trace 73 b and ground vias 74 a and 74 b. Likewise, the conductive trace 73 e on signal level 71 c is not connected to the ground via 74 a, as represented by the surface area 75 interposed between the conductive trace 73 e and ground via 74 a.

Conductive trace interconnections between levels 71 may also be established by conductive vias 72. Each conductive via 72 comprises a conductive trace deposited on the interior surface of the via, or may comprise a conductive core filling the interior region of the via. For example, in the cross section shown, conductive trace 73 d is connected to conductive trace 73 e through conductive vias 72 a and 72 b. Likewise, the conductive trace 73 e is connected to conductive trace 73 f through conductive vias 72 e and 72 d; conductive trace 73 g is connected to ground via 74 a by conductive via 72 c; and conductive trace 73 h is connected to ground via 74 b through conductive via 72 f.

Atop signal layer 71 a are a surface mount capacitor 54 and a ball grid array (BGA) mounted electrical device 69. Other mounting methods other than those shown may also be used. The electrical device 69 may comprise any electrical device having or requiring ESD protection, such as a discrete electrical component, an integrated circuit, and the like.

A circumferential spark gap 20, which comprises conductive traces 73 f and 73 g, is interposed between one terminal of the capacitor 54 and ground via 74 a. The spark gap 20 is formed by the laser ablation process described above. The laser ablation typically removes a particular depth of the substrate material upon which the conductive material is deposited, as indicated in the slightly conical depression in the dielectric 76 beneath the spark gap 20.

Conductive trace 73 g of the spark gap 20 is connected to the ground via 74 a through conductive via 72 c. The other conductive trace 73 f of the spark gap 20 is connected to one terminal of the capacitor 54 through conductive vias 72 d and 72 e, and also to conductive trace 73 e. The conductive trace 73 e, in turn, is connected to the electronic device 69 through conductive vias 72 a and 72 b and conductive trace 73 d. Additionally, the other end of the capacitor 54 is connected to the ground via 74 b through conductive trace 72 f. Thus, the capacitor 54 and the spark gap 20 are interposed in parallel between the electrical device 69 and ground to provide spark gap ESD protection with a parallel shunt capacitance.

FIG. 10 depicts a side view of a second printed circuit board 70 embodiment of the spark gap device of FIG. 8. The printed circuit board 70 of FIG. 10 comprises signal levels 71 i, 71 j, 71 n, 71 o and 71 p, ground levels 71 k and 71 l, and power level 71 m. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 9, except that the circumferential spark gap is fabricated in a layer beneath the top layer 71 i.

FIG. 11 depicts a side view of a third printed circuit board 70 embodiment of the spark gap device of FIG. 8. The printed circuit board 70 of FIG. 11 comprises signal levels 71 q, 71 r, 71 s, 71 v, 71 w and 71 x, ground levels 71 t and power level 71 u. Signal level 71 r further comprises a thin laminate 77 upon which one or more conductive traces may be deposited. The thin laminate 77 is used to form a spark gap 21. The laminate 77 includes a periphery 79 that defines an opening. The open is placed over a space 78 in the dielectric 76 and extends over the periphery defined by the space 78. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the geometry of the opening in the laminate 77 is such that the laminate 77 extends over the sides of the dielectric space 78.

A first side 80 of the opening comprises a conductive trace and is connected to a ground via 74 d and a first terminal of the capacitor 54 through conductive via 72 l . A second side 81 of the opening likewise comprises a conductive trace and is connected to a conductive via 72 m. The conductive via 72 m is, in turn, connected to the other terminal of the capacitor 54 and the electronic device 69 by conductive trace 73 n. Spark gap protection is thus provided by the gap formed by the conductive trace 73 p on the second side 81 of the opening and the conductive ground trace 73 a. Thus, the capacitor 54 and the spark gap 21 are interposed in parallel between the electrical device 69 and ground to provide spark gap ESD protection.

A shunt capacitor may also be fabricated directly in the printed circuit board 70. For example, in FIG. 11, the dielectric 76 interposed between the laminate 77 and the conductive ground trace 73 a may be selected so that the dielectric 76 and the conductive traces 73 a and 73 p form a capacitor. Accordingly, a first terminal of the capacitor is connected to the electrical device 69 through the conductive via 72 m and conductive trace 73 n. The second terminal of the capacitor comprises the conductive ground trace 73 a, and thus the capacitor 54 and the spark gap 21 are interposed in parallel between the electrical device 69 and ground to provide spark gap ESD protection.

FIG. 12 depicts another embodiment of a circumferential extension spark gap device 20. In this embodiment, conductor 90 and conductive traces 96 and 98 comprise a first signal path, and conductor 94 and conductive traces 104 and 106 comprise a second signal path. Conductive traces 100 and 102 are connected to a ground reference so that conductor 92 provides a spark gap ground reference. Each spark gap 20 is similar to the spark gaps described with respect to FIGS. 1-6 above, and comprises a plurality of conductive circumferential extensions 24 that define voids 22 in the conductive surface.

FIGS. 13 and 14 depict side and top views, respectively, of a spark gap device in a portion of a flex circuit 110. The flex circuit 110 comprises a flexible dielectric or insulating material 112. In one embodiment, the flexible material comprises a polyimide material. Other flexible materials may also be used, such as a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) material. In another embodiment, the dielectric 112 may be selected so that the dielectric constant and the conductive traces between which the dielectric is interposed form a capacitor.

Conductive traces 114, 116 and 118 are positioned near the top layer of the flex circuit 110. A bottom conductive trace comprises a conductive ground trace 120. The conductive trace 118 is connected to the conductive ground trace 120 through a conductive via 122. Conductive traces 114 and 116 may be connected to signal processing circuitry or data transmission, such as a semiconductor device or a input pin on a connector 124.

A first spark gap 20 a is interposed between the conductive traces 116 and 118, and connected in parallel to a capacitor 54. The first spark gap 20 a is laser ablated to a depth that does not exceed the depth of the dielectric 112. A second spark gap 20 b is interposed between the conductive traces 114 and 118, and connected in parallel to a capacitor 54. The second spark gap 20 is laser ablated to a depth that extends through the flex circuit. The second spark gap 20 b thus is also vertically disposed, providing alternate ESD protection via distance G that is defined by the thickness G of the dielectric or insulating material 112. Thus, the second spark gap 20 b comprises the entire periphery of the conductor edges defining the arcuate voids 22. Capacitors 54 may be optionally connected in parallel with the spark gaps 20 a and 20 b to provide additional shunt capacitance protection.

FIG. 15 depicts example embodiments of spark gap devices integrated into surface mount components 130 and 150. FIG. 13( a) depicts a surface mount component 130 having a spark gap device comprising circumferential extensions 24 defining overlapping arcuate voids 22 as described with respect to FIGS. 1-4 above. FIG. 13( b) depicts a surface mount component 150 having a spark gap 151 comprising angled extension. The spark gap 151 of FIG. 13( b) may be constructed by a chemical etching process, or by photolithography masking, or other fabrication methods.

Each of the surface mount components 130 and 150 also comprise solder masks 138 and 140 and solder tabs 142 and 144. The spark gap and solder masks 138 and 140 may be distributed on one surface of an insulator 136. The surface mount components 130 and 150 may also comprise a circuit element disposed between the solder tabs 142 and 144 so that the spark gap is connected to the solder tabs 142 and 144 in parallel with the circuit element. The spark gap thus provides bi-directional ESD protection to the electrical element and may further limit over-voltage spikes to a nondestructive level.

The circuit elements may comprise passive circuit components, such as a resistor, inductor or capacitor. FIG. 16 depicts an example embodiment of a spark gap device in a surface mount capacitor 150. The capacitor 150 comprises interlayered electrode plates 160, 161, 162 and 163 and an interposing dielectric 164. The electrode plates 160 and 161 are connected to the solder tab 144, and the electrode plates 162 and 163 are connected to the solder tab 142. A circumferential spark gap device 20 comprising circumferential extensions 24 that define arcuate voids 22 is connected to the solder tabs 142 and 144 in parallel with the electrode plates 160, 161, 162 and 163. Although the novel spark gap device 20 of FIGS. 1-6 is implemented in the embodiment of FIG. 16, other spark gap devices comprising a different geometry may also be used, such as the angled spark gap device of FIG. 15( b).

FIG. 17 provides a plurality of circuit representations for various surface mount components having integrated spark gap devices. FIGS. 15( a), (b) and (c) depict circuit representations for a surface mount capacitor, inductor, and resistor, respectively. The components of FIGS. 15( a), (b) and (c) may facilitate a variety of implementations. For example, the resistor device of FIG. 17( c) may be implemented as a protected resistor, or may alternative be implemented as a spark gap having a high bypass resistance. Other two-terminal circuit elements may also be used, and other packing schemes may likewise be used. For example, a two-terminal, multi-pole filter may be protected by the parallel spark gap device of FIG. 15. Likewise, the parallel spark gap device may also be used to protect other packaging, such as dual in-line (DIP) or small-outline integrated circuit (SOIC) packaging, or be used in conjunction with an IC socket and module.

The capacitance of the spark gap device 20 may also be considered when fabricating the circuit element. For example, if the characteristic capacitance of a circumferential spark gap device 20 is 0.1 pF, and a surface mount component is to provide a capacitance of 10 pF, then the value of the actual capacitor to be connected in parallel with the spark gap device 20 may be adjusted accordingly so that the terminal capacitance is 10 pF.

FIG. 18 depicts a top view of a mobile communication device 200. The spark gap device of FIGS. 1-4 may be implemented in the mobile communication device 200 to provide ESD protection to ESD-sensitive components. The mobile communication device 200 may have a data communication capability, a voice communication capability, or a combination of data and voice communication capability. The housing of the mobile communication device 200 may include a conductive surface, such as a metal bezel 210 having an interior edge 211. The interior edge 211 defines an opening for viewing a display assembly 202, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). A keyboard 204, a speaker 206 and a microphone 208 are provided to facilitate voice and data communications.

The mobile device 200 is operable to communicate over a wireless network via a radio frequency link. The metal bezel 210 is an entry point for ESD energy. Typically, however, grounding the metal bezel 210 directly to ground will cause a high capacitive coupling to the mobile device 200 antenna and cause RF communication performance degradation. Accordingly, a spark gap device is implemented to provide ESD protection and minimize capacitive coupling, and reroutes the destructive ESD to a PCB ground.

FIG. 19 depicts a spark gap device 222 for providing ESD protection from a metal surface case component 210 of the mobile communication device 200. A spark gap device 222 provides ESD protection of an LCD assembly 202 by providing a spark gap from the metal bezel 210 to a ground potential on a PCB 220. The LCD assembly 202 may comprise a display window 212, a display gasket 213, an LCD module 214, a LCD driver chip 216, and an LCD I/O connector 218.

FIGS. 20 and 21 depict side and bottom views of one embodiment of a spark gap device for providing ESD protection from a metal surface case component 210 of the mobile communication device 200. In this embodiment, the circumferential spark gap of FIGS. 1-6 is used. An insulator 224 separates the spark gap device 222 from the metal bezel 210. A first conductor 230 is connected to the metal bezel 210, proximate to the interior edge 211. A second conductor 232 is connected to a reference ground potential. The first and second conductors 230 and 232 are separated by a spark gap 20 comprising circumferential extensions 24 that define a plurality of overlapping arcuate voids 24.

FIGS. 22 and 23 depict side and bottom views of another embodiment of a spark gap device for providing ESD protection from the metal surface case component 210 of the mobile communication device 200. In this embodiment, a triangular shaped spark gap 223 is used. The triangular shaped spark gap 223 is separated from the interior edge 211 of the metal bezel 210 by a gap distance G. An insulator 224 is used to separate the conducting surface of the spark gap device 224 from the metal bezel 210. The other end of the spark gap device 224 is connected to a reference ground potential. In one embodiment, a poron strip is used to realize the spark gap device 224. In another embodiment, two conductors with triangle terminations are used to provide a triangular spark gap. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 18 and 19, except that the spark gap comprises a triangular geometry instead of the circumferential geometry.

The spark gap devices described herein may be configured to protect other circuitry in the mobile communication device 200. FIG. 24 is an example PCB 250 having integrated circumferential extension spark gap devices 240 for providing ESD protection. Each integrated circumferential spark gap device 240 comprises a first conductor 242 and a second conductor 244 separated by a spark gap 20 comprising a plurality of circumferential extensions 24 that define arcuate voids. The integrated circumferential spark gap devices 240 may be distributed to protect any ESD sensitive circuitry connected to an ESD entry point, such as battery contacts 252, I/O device jacks 254, SIM contacts 256, and/or keypad dome switches 258.

Keypad dome switches 258 comprise a conductive trace 260 and a conductive center pad 262. Each section of the conductive trace 260 defining a keypad area is connected to an integrated circumferential spark gap device 240. Likewise, each conductive center pad 262 is connected to an integrated circumferential spark gap device 240. In the embodiment shown, integrated circumferential spark gap devices 240 connected to the conductive center pad 262 are insulated from the conductive trace 260.

The integrated circumferential spark gap devices 240 may also protect removable electronic devices. FIG. 25 is an example subscriber identity module (SIM) card 270 having integrated circumferential extension spark gap devices 240 for providing ESD protection. The integrated circumferential spark gap devices 240 are interposed between a reference potential surface 272 and a power contact 274, a first data contact 276, a clock contact 278, a reset contact 280, and a second data contact.

The embodiments described herein are examples of structures, systems or methods having elements corresponding to the elements of the invention recited in the claims. This written description may enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use embodiments having alternative elements that likewise correspond to the elements of the invention recited in the claims. The intended scope of the invention thus includes other structures, systems or methods that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, and further includes other structures, systems or methods with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims. 

1. An apparatus for providing electrostatic discharge protection, comprising: a conductor deposited on a first side of a surface material, the conductor being laser ablated by overlapping laser footprints to form a plurality of voids that separate the conductor into first and second conductor elements; and a series of conductive circumferential extensions formed in each of the first and second conductor elements at the intersections of the laser footprints, the series of conductive circumferential extensions comprising a series of opposing, spaced apart electrodes on each of the first and second conductor elements, each extension having a tip directed toward the tip of the opposing extension, and the opposing tips of the opposing electrodes on each of the first and second conductor elements being separated by a gap spacing determined by an amount of overlap between overlapping laser footprints, the gap spacing defining an amount of electrostatic discharge protection of the apparatus.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting the gap spacing between the circumferential extensions by adjusting the amount of overlap in the overlapping laser footprints.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive circumferential extensions define a gap spacing of approximately 12 μm.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a shunt capacitor connected to the first conductor.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the shunt capacitor is connected to the first conductor by depositing a third conductor on a second side of the surface material so that the surface material is interposed between the first conductor and the third conductor.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the overlapping laser footprints on the conductor surface comprise horizontally overlapping laser footprints on the conductor surface.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the overlapping laser footprints on the conductor surface comprises horizontally and vertically overlapping laser footprints on the conductor surface.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive circumferential extensions define a gap spacing greater than a diameter of the overlapping laser footprints.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second conductor elements is coupled to a ground potential.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the conductor is in a housing of a mobile communication device, and at least one of the first and second conductor elements is coupled to the housing of the mobile communication device.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the conductor is in a housing of a mobile communication device having a USB port, and at least one of the first and second conductor elements is coupled to an input pin of the USB port.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a shunt capacitor connected in parallel with the conductor; and a resistor connected in series with the parallel connection of the shunt capacitor and the conductor.
 13. A mobile communication device, comprising: a housing comprising at least one outer conductive housing surface; a printed circuit board carrying an electrical subsystem and placed within the housing, the electrical subsystem comprising a ground; and a spark gap electrode interposed between the outer conductive surface of the housing and the ground of the electrical subsystem to protect the electrical subsystem from electrostatic discharge entering the mobile communication device from the conductive housing surface; wherein the spark gap electrode comprises: a conductor deposited on a first side of a surface material, the conductor being laser ablated by overlapping laser footprints to form a plurality of voids that separate the conductor into first and second conductor elements; and a plurality of conductive circumferential extensions formed in each of the first and second conductor elements at the intersections of the laser footprints, the plurality of conductive circumferential extensions comprising a plurality of opposing, spaced apart electrodes on each of the first and second conductor elements, each extension having a tip directed toward the tip of the opposing extension, and the opposing tips of the opposing electrodes on each of the first and second conductor elements being separated by a gap spacing that defines an amount of electrostatic discharge protection.
 14. The mobile communication device of claim 13, further comprising means for adjusting the gap spacing between the circumferential extensions by adjusting the amount of overlap in the overlapping laser footprints.
 15. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the conductive circumferential extensions define a gap spacing of approximately 12 μm.
 16. The mobile communication device of claim 13, further comprising a shunt capacitor connected to the first conductor.
 17. The mobile communication device of claim 16, wherein the shunt capacitor is connected to the first conductor by depositing a third conductor on a second side of the surface material so that the surface material is interposed between the first conductor and the third conductor.
 18. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the overlapping laser footprints on the conductor surface comprise horizontally overlapping laser footprints on the conductor surface.
 19. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the overlapping laser footprints on the conductor surface comprises horizontally and vertically overlapping laser footprints on the conductor surface.
 20. The mobile communication device of claim 13, wherein the conductive circumferential extensions define a gap spacing greater than a diameter of the overlapping laser footprints. 